Dispensing device for pocketed envelopes

ABSTRACT

An envelope dispenser for uniformly retaining and flexing pocketed envelopes in a manner which automatically maintains the envelope pockets sufficiently open for efficient insertion of material therein. An adjustable support, slidably mounted beneath the envelopes in the dispenser, applies appropriate flexing force thereto and, in addition, makes it possible for the dispenser to satisfactorily accommodate different types of envelopes therein.

United States Patent Ferris [15] [4 Dec. 12, 1972 1541 DISPENSING DEVICEFOR POCKETED ENVELOPES [72] Inventor: James E. Ferris, Rochester, NY.[73] Assignee: Eastman Kodait Company,

Rochester, NY.

[22] Filed: April 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 134,787

[52] US. Cl ..221/47 [51] Int. Cl. ..B43m 3/00 [58] Field of Search..22l/55, 33, 47, 63; 312/60,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,513,474 7/1950 Greer..221/47 2,435,104 l/1948 1,490,070 4/1924 Korth 2,863,675 12/1958 OttoPrimary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney-W. H. J. Kline and Saul A.Seinberg [57] ABSTRACT An envelope dispenser for uniformly retaining andflexing pocketed envelopes in a manner which automatically maintains theenvelope pockets sufficiently open for efficient insertion of materialtherein. An adjustable support, slidably mounted beneath the en- 6(Ilaims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 12 I97? 3. 705 664 JAM ES; E. FERRISINVENTOR.

ATTORINEYS P'A'IE'N'TEDnEc 12 I972 3. 705 664 JAMES E. FERRIS A ORNEYSPATENTED 12 I97? 3. 705,664

sum 3 BF 3 8 JAMES E. FERRIS 9mgi ti ATTORNEYS DISPENSING DEVICE FORPOCKETED ENVELOPES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS entitledControl Circuit For Automating The Operation Of A Film Cutter Or LikeApparatus, filed in the names of Gerald C. Smith and Raymond J. Williamson Apr. 16, 1971; and US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 134,788, entitledBimodal Film Cutter Adapted To Handle Different Film Widths, filed inthe name of Thomas W. Bracken on Apr. 16, 1971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relatesto a dispensing device and, more particularly, to an envelope dispenserwhich accepts and flexes pocketed envelopes for efficient insertion ofmaterial therein.

2. Description of the Prior Art Dispensers of various types are known inthe prior art. These prior art dispensers were designed to deliver suchitems as paper bags, folded napkins, cleansing tissues and moistenedsheets. Certain applications, however, required the use of pocketedenvelopes which could not be conveniently, economically or efficientlydispensed by any of the known devices.

In those applications where a pocketed envelope is employed, it ishighly desirable from an efficiency and cost standpoint to provide adevice which would permit an operator to load material into suchenvelopes without having to expend effort in opening the pockets.

' One such application is encountered in the field of photofinishingwhere processed prints and their corresponding negatives are deliveredto an operator for insertion in a pocketed customer envelope.

In the past, such envelopes were stacked adjacent the photofinishingapparatus being used and, as the finished prints and negatives weredelivered, the operator would insert them into appropriate pockets ofthe envelope along with descriptive literature, called stuffers in thetrade. It was found that this highly repetitive insertion operation,which required the operator to manually open each pocket, was timeconsuming, fatiguing, inefficient and costly, especially as many phasesof the photofinishing process were automated. In fact, it soon becameevident that the insertion operation was a bottleneck which preventedthe processor from reaping the benefits of automating his processingfacilities. Unfortunately, none of the prior art devices provided ordisclosed an envelope dispensing device which could be readily adaptedby the photofinishing field and also solve the problems noted above.

2 SUMMARY on THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of thepresent invention to provide an inexpensive and efficient dispenser forpocketed envelopes.

It is a further object of the present invention to pro vide such adispenser in. which the envelopes are retained in a flexed positionwherein the pockets are at least partially open to facilitate insertionof material therein.

i It is still another object of the present invention to provide aninexpensive and efficient dispenser for multi-pocketed envelopes whichretains the envelopes in a flexed and fully accessible position with allpockets of the envelope maintained at least partially open for efficientinsertion of material therein.

Accordingly, there is provided a frame member for retaining theenvelopes, two opposing walls of which have inwardly extending flangesfor retaining the top and bottom portions of the envelopes as they arefulcrumed over the top surface of a support member adjustably mounted inthe. frame member beneath the envelopes. The predetermined height of thesupport member forces the retained envelopes to assume an outwardlybowed or convex shape which, at least, partially opens the envelopepockets to facilitate insertion of material therein. The adjustablymounted support member permits location of the fulcrum point in anoptimum plane at a location therein which yields maximum pocket opening.In addition, the support member can be appropriately biased to provideuniform flexing of the envelopes regardless of the number of type ofenvelopes inserted in the frame member.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description thereof taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein there is set forth by way of illustrativeexample certain embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrationof a photofinishing console which includes an envelope dispenseraccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a multi-pocketed envelope of a type employable in theenvelope dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

' FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the envelope dispenser shown in FIG. 1which has been loaded with a number of envelopes of the type illustratedin FIG. 2, into the pockets of which photographic material is beinginserted.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the loaded envelope dispenserillustrated in FIG. 1 taken along line AA thereof.

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which the envelope shown in FIG. 2 isfolded.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the mounting arrangementutilized for the support member illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 illustrates in perspective an alternative embodiment of thesupport member shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates in perspective another alternative embodiment of thesupport member shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment ofthe flange portion of a sidewall shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingswherein like reference numerals have been used in the several views forlike elements, FIG. 1 illustrates a photofinishing console whichincludes an envelope dispenser 11 according to the present invention. Adetailed description of the photofinishing console 10 is not necessaryfor purposes of this description. Rather, it is sufficient to know thatindividual prints 7 and negative strips 9 are cyclically delivered atlocations 12 and 13 respectively. For a more detailed description ofphotofinishing console 10, reference should be had to the previouslyidentified US. Pat. applications Ser. Nos. l34,79l, 134,786, l34,789 and134,788.

Upon delivery of the prints 7 and negative strips 9 to locations 12 and13, the prints 7 are quickly scanned by the operator for defects, ifany, and, if acceptable, are inserted along with their correspondingnegative strips 9 into the topmost envelope 14 in dispenser 11.v

Withdrawal of the negative strips 9 from location 13 causes initiationof the next cycle of console 10 operation, which is completed by thetime the operator has finished packing the immediately precedingdelivery of prints 7 and negative strips 9. In addition, if desired, theoperator can insert in envelope 14, together with a processed customerorder, descriptive material or stuffers conveniently located incompartments 15 of storage means 16. It should be noted that extraenvelopes I4 and other materials, such as pricing labels,

negative covers or the like, can be stored in storage means 16.

In the preferredembodiment described herein, the particular envelope I4employed contains two pockets, a print pocket 17 and a negative pocket18. It will be appreciated by those having skill in this art, that envelope 14 could contain only one pocket or more than two, the numberbeing dependent upon the particular task involved. The details ofenvelope 14 are illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, pockets l7 and 18 areof differing height with the mouth 18a of negative pocket 18 lying justbelow the mouth 17a of print pocket 17. The envelope flap 19 is normallyextended in the same plane as the envelope back 20 and remains soextended,

though slightly bowed, upon insertion into the dispenser 11. Uponinsertion of the customer order into pockets 17 and 18, the filledenvelope 14 is removed and flap 19 is bent along fold line 21 andassumes the position indicated by the dashed lines 22 in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, a number of envelopes 14 are in serted intodispenser 11 with their pockets 17 and 18 facing up. The top portion 23and bottom portion 24 of the envelopes 14 are tucked beneath edging 25,which asthetically masks the opening 26 of table 27 into which dispenser11 fits.

The envelope dispenser 11, as best shown in FIG. 4, comprises a unitaryframe member 28 having an inclined or sloped floor 29 which terminatesat each end thereof in upright wall portions 30 and 31, respectively. Aslot 37 is cut in floor 29 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.The distance between wall portions 30 and 31 is obviously slightlygreater than the width of the properly bowed envelopes 14 and slightlysmaller than the opening 26 in table 27. Each of the walls 30 and 31,have a flange, 32 and 33 respectively, formed at the top thereof whichfits beneath edging 25,

as shown in FIG. 4. It has been empirically determined for theparticular types of envelope used in the photofinishing field, that thespacing between walls 30 and 31,'or the rearmost portion of flanges 32and 33, should be equal to from to 96 percent of the envelope height.For example, in the embodiment of the present invention illustrated inFIG. 4, the spacing between walls 30 and 31 has been chosen to be about93 percent of the envelope height. In the particular frame member 28described above and illustrated in FIG. 4, unitary construction waschosen for both economic and structural reasons. However, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the respective flange, walland bottom portions of frame member 28 can be formed of separate,independent pieces which are ultimately joined by one of several knownjoining techniques. It will also be appreciated that in fabricatingframe member 28, the wall portions 30 and 31 thereof can be bentslightly outwardly so that upon insertion into opening 26, they will beforced towards each other into a substantially vertical position whichsimultaneously biases them against the sides of table opening 26,thereby securing frame member 28 in opening 26. Such biasing actionassumes the choice of a suitable and appropriate material for framemember 28 from among the many known in the an. Alternatively, framemember 28 can be secured by spot welding flanges 32 and 33 atappropriate locations to edging 25. Still another alternative joiningtechnique achieves the securing of frame member 28 within table 27 byemployment of conventional nut assemblies (not shown) through holes (notshown) cut for that purpose in flanges 32 and 33 and edging 25.

Support member 34, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, is slidably mounted to thefloor 29 of frame member 28 by passing two carriage bolts 38 throughopenings .35, in its bottom portion 36 and through slots 37. Theposition of support member 34 is then fixed by tightening nuts 39.Bottom portion 36 of support member 34 is bent to angularly coincidewith and is therefore parallel to floor 29. This insures, regardless ofits position with respect to slot 37, that support member 34 issubstantially vertical. Alternatively, the openings 35 in bottom portion29 could be elongated to form a slot, while slots 37 could be reduced toa rounded opening merely sufficient to accept bolts 38. Then, anadjustment in the position of support member 34 would be effected bysliding support member 34 along floor 29 rather than by sliding bolts 38along slots 37. The actual arrangement chosen is not critical, as longas the support member 34 can be readily moved with respect to floor 29as the need therefor arises. An exploded, clarified view of the mountingarrangement of support member 34 to floor 29 is illustrated in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, square shoulders 51 are provided on the underside ofthe heads 52 of bolts 38. Since the width of the opposing shoulders 51is chosen just slightly smaller than the width of slots 37, fulltightening of the carriage bolts 38 will positively secure supportmember 34 to floor 29. In this manner, any tendency of support member 34to move relative to floor 29 once positioned is minimized. The use ofredundant attachment means, bolts 38 and nuts 39, also serves tomaintain the position of support member 34 relative to floor 29. It willbe appreciated, however, that the use of taching support member 34 tofloor 29 is not necessary to practice the invention herein disclosed andits description is therefore merely exemplary. It will be furtherappreciated and understood that other suitable and conventionalarrangements for slidablymounting support member 34 to floor 29 could bereadily employed. I g

The top portion 40.of support member is, as shown in FIG. 4, bent overto provide a surface over whichthe envelopes 14 can be fulcrumed. Theuppermost surface 41 of top portion 40 is located, in the embodimentillustrated in FIG. 4, in the same plane as the top of edging 25; Thelocation of surface 41 obviously determines the degree to which theenvelopes 14 are flexed since their top 23 and bottom portions 24 aretucked under fixed flanges 32 and 33, respectively, beneath edging25.-It will be appreciated that the selected height of support member 34and the location of surface 41 is, in great measure, a function of suchfactors as envelope stiffness, the maximum number of envelopes to beloaded, the horizontal location of flanges 32 and 33 and the amount offlexure needed to sufficiently open the envelope pockets 17 and 18. Ineach instance, therefore, it is necessary that the surface 41 be locatedin an optimum plane which will result in enough envelope flexure toinsure that the envelope pockets are opened by an amount sufficient topromote ready and efficient insertion of material therewithin. In theembodiment described herein, for the type and number of envelopes used,the optimum plane has been determined to be coextensive with the top ofedging 25. It should be noted, however, as illustrated in FIG. 9, thatthe flange 33 (or flange 32) itself can be appropriately shaped so thatno edging 25 is required. In such an instance, the location of theoptimum plane may not change, but the element to which it is referencedwill.

Should a change in the type of envelope used be necessary, such as, forexample, a change in the position of pockets 17 and 18, then not onlywill the location of the optimum plane change, but the fulcrum point,that point in the optimum plane where contact is made between theenvelopes 14 and surface 41, will also change. In order to achievemaximum pocket opening under such a condition, it will be necessary toslide support member 34 along floor 29 in whatever direction isappropriate. Arrows 42 indicate, in FIG. 4, the directions in whichsupport member 34 can be moved to achieve the desired result.

As shown in FIG. 7, support member 34 can be modified to achievevertical displacement of surface 41 without the necessity of horizontalmovement, that is, without the need to slide support member 34 alongfloor 29. The incorporation of this modification would eliminate theneed to have floor 29 slope between walls 30 and 31. Thus, floor 29.would be generally perpendicular to side walls 30 and 31 and bottomportion 36 of support member 34 would extend generally perpendiculartherefrom. This change is achieved by forming support member 34 from twopieces, an upper segment 42 and a lower segment 43. The segments 42 and43 are slidably mounted to each other by a carriage bolt 44 and nut 45through opening 46 in upper segment 42 and an opening (not shown) inlower segment 43 cut respectively therein in a similar manner to themountthe particular means described above for slidablyating arrangementof support member 34 to floor 29 illustrated in FIG. 6. Either one orboth of these openings in segments 42 and 43 can be elongated to achievea desired range of vertical movement fortop surface .41. The stabilityof support member 34, when fabricated as illustratedin FIG. 7, isgreatly improved by providing lugs 53 on top segment 42 which are bentback around the sides of bottom segment 43 thereby minimizing anytendency of rotational movement between top and bottom portions 42and43. In addition, as previously described with respect to the mountingof support member 34 to floor 29, a second bolt and nut assembly andappropriate openings could be provided to further positively stabilizethe slidably joined top and bottom portions 42 and'43.

The versatility of the envelope dispenser described herein can beenhanced even further, as shown in FIG. 8, by providing biasing meansbetween segments 42 and 43. In the illustrated alternative embodiment ofFIG. 8, such biasing means is conveniently selected to be the springs 48which are mounted in compression between flanges 49 and 50 extendingrespectively from the upper. and lower segments 42 and 43. The biasingaction of springs 48 tend to apply optimum flexing to envelopes 14,especially in those instan'ceswhere a great number of or stifferenvelopes are employed.

The springs 48 are held in place by pins 54 which are fixedly mountedbetween flanges 49 and 50. Top segment 42 is slidably joined to bottomsegment 43 by rivets 55 or like elements, the shafts of which extendthrough and ride in slots 56 cut in top portion 42. The ends (not shown)of the rivets 55 are peened over or otherwise arranged so that the topand bottom segments 41 and 42 are held in slidable engagement. With theFIG. 8 embodiment of support member 34 incorporated in the dispenser ll, the pressure exerted by the compressed springs 48, which are chosenwith appropriate spring constants, tends to maintain the pockets of thetopmost envelope 1.4 sufficiently flexed and open so that material canbe readily and efficiently inserted therein.

This invention has been described in detail with reference to preferredembodiment; however, it will be understood that variations andmodifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of theinvention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device for providing efficient access to the pockets ofthe topmost one of a number of pocketed envelopes to be retainedtherein, said device comprising:

a. a frame member comprising two parallel upstanding walls havingparallel flanges at the top thereof, said flanges extending inwardlytowards each other and spaced apart a distance less than the height ofthe envelopes, and a floor member extending between said upstandingwalls at an angle thereto, said floor member having an opening therein;and

b. support means having a top surface for supporting thereon envelopesplaced in said dispensing device, said support means including aninverted J shaped support member having a bottom portion extendingtherefrom at an angle approximating the slope of said floor member, saidbottom portion having an opening therein, and mounting means extendingthrough said openings in said floor member and said bottom portion forslidably mounting said .l-shaped support member to said floor member sothat the vertical position of said top surface can be varied to provideoptimum flexure of the envelopes; so that when the envelopes are placedin said dispensing device with their pocket sides up, they are fulcrumedover said top surface of said support means with their top and bottomportions tucked beneath and retained by said flanges causing theenvelope pockets to open at least partially.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said flanges are spaced apartby a distance equal to 93:3 percent of the envelope height.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein said support member furtherincludes:

a. an upper segment having a flange extending therefrom; and

b. a lower segment slidably mounted to said upper segment and having aflange extending therefrom; said device further comprising biasing meansmounted between said segment flanges for urging said segments apart.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said inverted J-shapedsupport member comprises:

a. an inverted J-shaped upper support segment having an opening therein;

b. an L-shaped lower support segment having an opening in its verticaland horizontal portions; and

c. mounting means for slidably mounting said upper support segment tosaid vertical portion of said lower support segment.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein said support means furthercomprises stabilizing means cooperating with said upper and lowersupport segments for minimizing rotational movement of said segmentswith respect to each other.

6. The device according to claim 3 wherein said support means furthercomprises stabilizing means cooperating with said upper and lowersupport segments for minimizing rotational movement of said segmentswith respect to each other.

1. A dispensing device for providing efficient access to the pockets ofthe topmost one of a numbeR of pocketed envelopes to be retainedtherein, said device comprising: a. a frame member comprising twoparallel upstanding walls having parallel flanges at the top thereof,said flanges extending inwardly towards each other and spaced apart adistance less than the height of the envelopes, and a floor memberextending between said upstanding walls at an angle thereto, said floormember having an opening therein; and b. support means having a topsurface for supporting thereon envelopes placed in said dispensingdevice, said support means including an inverted J-shaped support memberhaving a bottom portion extending therefrom at an angle approximatingthe slope of said floor member, said bottom portion having an openingtherein, and mounting means extending through said openings in saidfloor member and said bottom portion for slidably mounting said J-shapedsupport member to said floor member so that the vertical position ofsaid top surface can be varied to provide optimum flexure of theenvelopes; so that when the envelopes are placed in said dispensingdevice with their pocket sides up, they are fulcrumed over said topsurface of said support means with their top and bottom portions tuckedbeneath and retained by said flanges causing the envelope pockets toopen at least partially.
 2. The device according to claim 1 wherein saidflanges are spaced apart by a distance equal to 93 + or - 3 percent ofthe envelope height.
 3. The device according to claim 2 wherein saidsupport member further includes: a. an upper segment having a flangeextending therefrom; and b. a lower segment slidably mounted to saidupper segment and having a flange extending therefrom; said devicefurther comprising biasing means mounted between said segment flangesfor urging said segments apart.
 4. The device according to claim 2wherein said inverted J-shaped support member comprises: a. an invertedJ-shaped upper support segment having an opening therein; b. an L-shapedlower support segment having an opening in its vertical and horizontalportions; and c. mounting means for slidably mounting said upper supportsegment to said vertical portion of said lower support segment.
 5. Thedevice according to claim 4 wherein said support means further comprisesstabilizing means cooperating with said upper and lower support segmentsfor minimizing rotational movement of said segments with respect to eachother.
 6. The device according to claim 3 wherein said support meansfurther comprises stabilizing means cooperating with said upper andlower support segments for minimizing rotational movement of saidsegments with respect to each other.